Cost wheel



Jan. 22, 1963 M. A. HALL 3,075,056

COST WHEEL Filed Oct. 9, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

MITCHELL A. HALL Jan. 22, 1963 M. A. HALL 3,075,056

cos'r WHEEL Filed Oct 9, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 86 88 92 l as 87 INVENTOR.

ITGHELL A. HALL BY ATTO R NEY Jan. 22, 1963 M. A. HALL 3,075,056

COST WHEEL Filed Oct. 9, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

MITCHELL A. HALL ATTORNEY Jan. 22, 1963 M. A. HALL 3,075,055

COST WHEEL Filed Oct. 9,. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

O Ffl' MITCHELL A. HALL BY W'Wfi ATTORNE Jan. 22, 1963 M. A. HALL 3,07

COST WHEEL Filed Oct. 9. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

MITCHELL A. HALL BY 3,075,056 COST WHEEL Mitchell A. Hall, 445 Rossford Ave, Fort Thomas, Ky. Filed Oct. 9, 1%1, Ser. No. 143,714 16 Claims. (Cl. 2tltl38) This application is a continuation in part of the application of Mitchell A. Hall, Serial No. 99,572, filed March 30, 1961, entitled Timer Mechanism.

The present invention relates to a timer mechanism, and particularly to one which is adapted to close an electric circuit to an appliance or other device to be operated for a predetermined length of time.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, highly efficient, substantially foolproof time control mechanism which may be associated with any type of conventional means for providing a setting which will initiate a predetermined time cycle.

Another object is to provide a time-control mechanism having the above described characteristics which is adapted to be associated with the standard housings or control boxes of coin-actuated equipment, such as, by way of example, electric driers, washers and the like, whereby the timer mechanism, though entirely independent of, may nevertheless be initiated and controlled by, the conventional coin-actuated slide type mechanisms usually associated with such housings.

Another object of the invention is to provide a time control mechanism having means associated therewith for enabling the timer to provide a wide variety of difierent timing cycles, depending upon the uses to which the timer is to be put, thereby greatly enhancing the flexibility and commercial acceptance of the device.

A further object is to provide a coin-slide-actuated timer which is so constructed and arranged as to preclude malfunction which would result in more time being delivered by the device than was actually paid for. In other words, the device is substantially cheat-proof.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a time control mechanism which is characterized by its extreme accuracy and which is adapted to be mounted in a typical housing in such a manner that it cannot be tampered with or cheated on in any way. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the subject time control mechanism is secured to and carried by a lockable access door, thereby rendering the device readily accessible to authorized persons for permitting easy removal of the entire mechanism for inspection, adjustment, or modification.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a timer of the character referred to, simple and inexpensive means for adapting the timer to changes which may be desired in manipulation of a coin slide associated therewith, the adaptation being so simple as to be performable in the field and with dispatch, without requiring any i change in or substitution for an existing coin slide originally associated with the timer. Thus, an existing arrangement which demands for its cycle of operation the deposit of a single coin of a certain denomination, may be promptly and inexpensively modified to demand two, three, or more such coins fed to the coin slide in succession, before initiating a cycle of operation; this being accomplished without regard to or consideration of the coin slide.

Another object is to incorporate in the timer mechanism compensating means operative to preclude distortion or destruction of working parts in the event of malfunction of the operating motor due to improper wiring or other causes tending to keep the motor running when it should be idle, said compensating means being so constructed as to offer no interference with the proper and intended operation of the machine controlled by the timer aired states Patent ice mechanism, so that the machine will remain in service notwithstanding the motor malfunction.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein, and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a typical housing or box containing coin injection mechanism, coin accumulating compartment and the time control mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear end view of the box of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan View of the box of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the box as shown in F-iG. 1, partially broken away to illustrate the time control mechanism housed therein.

FIG. 5 is a top sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, illustrating the mechanism in one stage of actuation. 1

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 8-3 of FIG. 5, and showing the relationship of parts when the timer mechanism is inoperative or normalized.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, showing the relationship of parts when the timer mechanism is operative to dispense time.

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are elevational views showing in various relationships a ratchet wheel and a sprocket wheel constituting part of a compensating means incorporated in the timer mechanism.

The box, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, is generally rectangular in configuration, and comprises side walls 20 and 21, top and bottom walls 22 and 23, and front and rear end walls 24 and 25. Front end wall 24 carries a conventional coin injecting slide mechanism, indicated generally at 26. When a coin of proper denomination is inserted in the circular aperture 27, the slide may be fully actuated and the coin injected int-o the box where it is deposited in a coin accumulating compartment, acces sible through door 23 in side wall 2%.

Door 28 is provided with a lock 30. The coin controlled slide mechanism may be of any appropriate conventional construction and is not disclosed or described in detail as it forms no part of the present invention beyond the provision of a leading edge or abutment 31 (FIG. 6) on the coin injecting slide 26.

Each time a proper coin is inserted in aperture 27 and injected into the box, the leading edge or abutment 31, being either integral with or rigidly attached to slide 26, moves into contact with and rocks a lever 32 from the normal or inoperative position of FIG. 6, to the advanced or operative position of FIG. 7.

A tension spring 33 is attached at one end to an ear 34 integral with lever 3-2, and at its other end to an upstanding arm 35 forming part of a stop member 36. Stop member 36 is rigidly fixed to a base plate 37 by means of a detent 3'8 and rivet 4t and provides a stop or limit for lever 32. The edge 41 of lever 32 is yieldably urged against the stop member 36 by tension spring 33 (FIG. 6).

Base plate 37 is fixed, as by spot welds, to a door plate 42, removably mounted in the end wall 25, and provided with a lock unit indicated generally at 43. Lever 32 is rotatably journaled on a collar 44 (FIG. 8) formed integral with base plate 37, and positioned to place lever 32 in the line of travel of the leading edge or abutment 31 of coin injecting slide 26.

Lever 32 is held in place on collar 4-4 and against base plate 37 by means of a ring bracket 133 encircling collar 44 and being provided with an offset foot portion 39', rigidly attached to base plate 37 by means of an appropriate screw 139.

A pawl 45 (FIG. 6) is pivotally attached to lever 32, as at 4'6, and is adapted under favorable conditions to engage the teeth of a main ratchet wheel 48. Such engagement of the pawl with wheel 48 is at times prevented by a larger pattern wheel 2% located adjacent thereto, as will be explained. {A tension spring 50 extends between an car 51 of pawl arm 45 and an car 52 extending radially outwardly from the journal ring 56 of lever 32. Spring 50 constantly urges pawl 45 toward the main ratchet wheel is, and of course toward the pattern wheel 20%) also.

It should be understood that pattern wheel 2% is an accessory element, which, with its bracket 2691, can and will often be omitted from the organization shown in FIGS. 5 to 9. When the pattern wheel is omitted, the action will be as explained in my copending application Serial No. 819,593, filed June 11, 1959 Assuming the pattern wheel 2% omitted, as in the copending application aforesaid, then when lever 32 is rocked in counter-clockwise direction in FIG. 6, pawl 45 will be moved out of engagement with tooth 54 of ratchet wheel 48, and will be shifted downwardly as in FIG. 7, against lug 56 preparatory to engagement with the succeeding tooth 55.

Overtravel of pawl 45 is thus limited by means of the upstanding lug 56, struck from base plate 37. Tension spring 33 will return lever 3-2 to its initial upstanding or starting position of FIG. 6, whereupon pawl 45 will en,- gage ratchet tooth 55 during the return stroke and thereby advance the ratchet wheel 48 in clockwise direction by one tooth.

As best illustrated by FIGS. 8 and 9, ratchet wheel 48 is provided with a central aperture 57 adapted to be slid over the counter-turned neck 58 of a hub 69 and is keyed thereto by means of a lug 61 struck from the ratchet wheel and extending into a keyway 62 provided in hub 60. The hub and ratchet wheel assembly is rotatably journaled in the bore 63 provided in the collar 44 and is held in place by means of an enlarged beveled head portion providing. a shoulder 64 overlying the base plate 3-7 at oneend of collar 44.

Ratchet wheel 48 is held against the other end of collar 44 by means of a spring washer 65 and a split ring 66 seated in an annular groove 67 in the counter-turned neck portion 5 8 of hub 60. Sufficient friction is thus provided by the spring washer to prevent the hub and ratchet wheel assembly from rotating with the pawl as it travels idle in counter-clockwise direction over the ratchet teeth. The

ed stud 70 at the location 73. Rotary movement of sprocket wheel 72. is restricted by spring metal pressure pads 75 andv 76 exerting an axially opposed pressure on opposite faces of the sprocket wheel as best illustrated in FIG. 5. The resilient leg 77 of the pressure pad assembly may be rigidly attached as by screw 78 to an ear 8t turned outwardly from base plate 37.

The externally screw-threaded stud 7 is provided with a central bore 83. The forward or inner end 84 of bore 83 is somewhat smaller in diameter and is threaded to carry a tight set screw S which is adapted to contact a switch actuating plate or lever 86.

As best illustrated in FIG. 5, plate 86 is pivoted asat 87, at one end in a bracket 88 secured to base plate 37 by means of a screw 90. The other end 91 of plate 86 is adapted to contact button 92 of a self-closing microswitch 93 under pressure of set screw 85, as will be described later in the specification. Micro-switch 93 is firm ly supported between brackets 88 and 9d.

Sprocket wheel 72 is driven in clockwise direction by means of a control member indicated generally at 95, which is the subject matter of a copending application, Serial No. 99,572, and will be described only insofar as is necessary to understand the operation of the present invention.

The control member 95 is rotated in counter-clockwise direction by means of a clock motor 96, and is composed of a body portion 97 and a plurality of radially disposed adjustable stops or abutment plates 98 (FIGS. 4 and 9). Each abutment plate 98 terminates in an outturned lip 69, and is radially adjustable to either a fully retracted or a fully advanced position. In the fully advanced position, lips 16% will contact teeth 101 of the sprocket Wheel 72 and impart a relative movement to the wheel. When the abutment plates are fully retracted, they by-pass or clear the teeth of wheel 72 Therefore, if motor 96 is driving the control member 95 in counter-clockwise direction at a rate of one revolution per hour, for example, and if all twelve abutment plates are fully extended, an abutment piate 995 will contact a tooth ml of sprocket wheel 72 every five minutes. The abutment plates 98 and sprocket teeth 101 are so spaced, that each abutment stop or element 1% will drive the sprocket wheel a distance of one tooth.

In FIG. 4, every third stop or abutment plate has been fully advanced and the remainder are fully retracted. A fifteen minute interval will therefore elapse between the contacting of each sprocket tooth. Various other time intervals of either regular or irregular duration may be provided for, by advancing or retracting various abutment plates 98.

Attention is now directed to the pattern wheel 29%), to be incorporated in the organization it and when desired, for the purpose of modifying the rotative effect of pawl 45 upon the main ratchet wheel 4%. That is, the pattern wheel can preclude the pawl from moving the ratchet wheel 48 until a desired number of pawl movement cycles is completed, with the successive deposits of proper coins in the coin slide. For example, if it is desired that six coins shall be required for the advancement of ratchet wheel 48 a distance of one tooth, then a pattern wheel 200 having every sixth tooth deeply cut, as at 293 in FIG. 6, will be mounted as in FIG. 8 about hub 60, to overlie one face of wheel 48 as there shown.

A full explanation and disclosure of the various types of pattern wheels that can be incorporated in the timer mechanism, may be obtained by referring to my copending application Serial No. 99,572, previously mentioned herein. Briefly stated, the purpose of the pattern Wheel is to predeterminethe number of coin slide actuations required for advancing the ratchet wheel 43 a distance of one tooth rotationally.

It may here be noted that the pattern wheel 2% is rotationally mounted upon a support bracket 201 having a base 216 which may be secured by means of a screw 212, to the plate 37. Bras ret 231 has formed therein a large circular opening 224 concentric with and much larger than hub 6b, which opening rotatably receives an annular flange 22s that extends from one face of pattern wheel 200. Thus, the pattern Wheel may rotate with relation to its supporting bracket 261 as impulses are directed thereto by pawl 45.

As pawl 45 is actuated by successive reciprocations of the coin slide part 31, it Will produce an independent toothby-tooth rotation of the pattern wheel. Whenever the pawl engages one of the deeper teeth 2% of the pattern wheel, it will also engage a tooth of the ratchet wheel 48 for advancing the latter a distance of one tooth.

It should be understood that with every advancement of ratchet wheel 48, its hub 63 will-rotate therewith due to the key connection at 61. Hub 60 acting as a threaded nut, and incapable of axial shifting, will by the action of its thread 68 drive the complementarily threaded stud 70 axially outwardly and away from switch plate 86, thereby to release the switch button 92 for closing an electric circuit to clock motor 93 which slowly drives the control member 95. Stud 78, of course, does not rotate with the hub nut 68, due to its fixed connection with sprocket wheel 72 which is held against rotation by the friction pads 75 and 76. Stud 70 however may shift axially as driven by the hub nut 68, due to the resiliency of leg 77 of the frict-ion device. Set screw 85, which depresses the switch plate 86, moves bodily with stud 78 at all times, as it is tightly fitted in the stud.

From the foregoing explanation, it will be appreciated that screw 85 of stud 78 will be backed away from the switch button actuating plate 86 a distance which is determined by the number of impulses directed to ratchet wheel 48 by the pawl 45 moved by coin slide member 31. Whatever this distance may be, it will thereafter be reduced to zero by the tooth-by-tooth advancement of sprocket wheel 72 driven intermittently by the selectively extended abutment plates 98 of the motor-driven control member 95. Control member 95 will be driven by motor 96 until such time as set-screw 85 reaches and depresses switch plate 86, to open the contacts of switch 93 and thereby stop the motor 96.

The adjustment of set-screw 85 is such that even a single tooth advancement of ratchet wheel 48 by pawl 45 will withdraw the set-screw from switch plate 86 to permit closing of switch 93 andenergization of motor as.

FIG. 8 shows the set-screw 85 impinging against the switch actuator plate 86 to open-circuit the switch 93. FIG. 9 shows the setscrew backed away from plate 86, permitting switch 93 to close the circuit to motor 96 which drives control member 95. As the control member of FIG. 9 drives the sprocket wheel 72 in stepping fashion as previously explained, stud 7'0 and its fixed screw 85 will eventually reach the FIG. 8 position for opening switch 93 and de-energizing the motor 96.

At this point of the explanation, one might consider what would be the result of failure of motor 96 to stop after set-screw 85 reaches the home position of FIG. 8. As is obvious, continued operation of the motor would cause control member 95 to continue driving the sprocket wheel 72, which in turn would continue to advance the screw 85 forceably against switch actuator plate 86, with possible damage to the plate 86, the switch, the motor, and possibly other elements of the mechanism, including the control member 95. A fault such as this can come about due to parts failures, inadvertent wiring transpositions, and other causes.

To overcome the possibility of damage to parts in the event of a failure as above referred to, compensating means is provided to preclude excessive advancement of stud 6t) and set-screw 85- in the direction of the switch actuator plate 86, notwithstanding faulty continuous or uncontrolled operation of motor 96. Referring to FIG. 9, it is noted that hub 60 is rotatably journaled in the bore 60 of collar 44, with the head 64 of the hub resting marginally against base plate 37. A spring washer 65 holds the hub in this position, the washer impinging yieldingly against the outer face of ratchet wheel 48 with sufficient force to firmly but yieldingly oppose rotation of the hub relative to base plate 37. The restraint against rotation of the hub is to be limited, to the extent that motor 95 might drive the hub, and the wheels 48 and 72, without undue strain imposed upon the motor and the abutment plates 98 of control member 95.

To effect a drive connection between sprocket wheel 72 and ratchet wheel 48, at a proper time, each of said wheels is provided with a laterally extending lug (FIG. 9), the lugs being identified at 228 and 230. The lugs may be simply struck from the material of the wheels 72 and 48, at equal distances from the wheel centers.

Lugs 228 and 230 are so proportioned and located upon their respective wheels, that they will normally pass one another without contacting as the wheels 72 and 48 move rotationally under the driving influence of the control member 95 or of the pawl 45. For example, see FIG. 9, wherein it is evident that ratchet wheel 48 has been rotated tooth-by-tooth due to the action of pawl 45, to rotate nut 68 relative to stud 70 and hereby axially shift sprocket wheel 72 to the left by the unscrewing action of the stud. Here it will be seen that lugs 228 and 230 can pass one another without interference, the distance between them becoming greater as wheel 48 is driven by pawl 45 to further unscrew the stud 70. Note that the screw has withdrawn from switch actuator plate 86, to permit closing of switch 93 and consequent energization of motor 96.

Now, if pawl 45 be not further actuated by the coin slide, motor 96 will be driving the control member 95 in counter-clockwise direction (FIG. 14), to step-rotate the sprocket wheel '72 until eventually said wheel will assume the position of FIG. 8, at which the switch will be opencircuited by screw 85 due to the in-screwing of stud 70 by rotation of the stud and its associated sprocket wheel 72 relative to hub 60.

At the instant the switch 93 is thusly open-circuited, lug 228 will be ready to contact and engage with lug 230 in the manner of a dog-tooth clutch as depicted by FIG. 11. If motor as stops, as would normally be expected, sprocket wheel 72 will no longer be powered by the motor and lug 228 will stop short of contacting the lug 230 of wheel 48, as in FIG. 11.

On the other hand, if motor 96 fails to stop on account of some malfunctioning of the switch or other cause, sprocket wheel 72 will continue to be rotated by the motor, and lug 228 will therefore strike and carry with it the lug 238, as in FIG. 12. Under such conditions, the motor as will, through the agency of lugs 228 and 230, drive both the sprocket wheel 72 and the ratchet wheel 48 in a common direction of rotation and at one speed, thereby causing hub 60 and stud 70 to rotate in unison so that no further advancement of set screw 85 toward the switch actuating plate 86 is possible. This prevents the upbuilding of pressure between screw 85 and plate 86, such as might otherwise damage, bend, or destroy these parts or the switch, and possibly other elements of the mechanism placed under strain by reason of failure of the motor to stop as intended.

It is important to note that the aforesaid malfunctioning of motor 96, and regardless of the possibility that continuous operation of the motor might go unnoticed indefinitely, yet the machine controlled by the timer mechanism will not be adversely alfected but may be used as under normal conditions. This is so, because actuation of the coin slide will result in the usual stepadvancement of ratchet wheel 48 relative to sprocket wheel 72, causing lug 230 to leave and move ahead of lug 228 by a number of steps corresponding to the number of effective coin slide actuations determined by the pattern wheel 280. When the same number of steps is performed by the sprocket wheel 72, driven by motor 96 and control member 95, the lug 228 will again be found in driving relationship with lug 230 as in FIG. 12, to normalize the machine operation.

It should be understood that the length of lugs 228 and 238 will be so gauged, that lug 228 of FIG. 11 will pass lug 238 without contact when wheel 72 carrying lug 228 is rotated relative to wheel 48 in counter-clockwise direction. Otherwise stated, the overlap of lug 228 upon lug 230 as in FIG. 8, must be slightly less than the lead of the thread inside hub 60.

In practice, the switch 93, in addition to controlling the timer motor 96, may also be in electrical connection with a piece of machinery, appliance, or any kind of equipment that is to be operated for a predetermined period of time for a fee as determined by the coin slide, the pattern wheel, and the adjustments of control member 95. For a complete disclosure of this phase of the operation, reference may be had to my copending appli- 7 cation Serial No. 99,572, since the invention herein disclosed is not presently concerned therewith.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the structural details of the device herein disclosed, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a timing mechanism, the combination of a control member, and an electric motor for actuating the control member, circuit means including a self-closing electric switch tending to maintain an energized condition of the motor, a rotary ratchet wheel having a plurality of teeth thereon, and a pawl shiftable repeatedly to engage said teeth for rotating the ratchet wheel in stepping fashion incident to shifting of the pawl, a switch actuator movable outwardly in increments determined by the step impulses of the ratchet wheel, and movable inwardly in increments determined by the motor-driven control member, said switch actuator in its inward movement being operative to open-circuit the electric switch aforesaid, and means operative to limit inward movement of said switch actuator subsequently to operation of the switch in the event of failure of the motor to discontinue driving the control member, said last-mentioned limit means comprising a normally disengaged clutch engageable subsequently to operation of the switch, for placing the control member in driving relationship with the ratchet wheel.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein is included a. sprocket wheel rotatable by the control member to advance and retract the switch actuator, and the limiting means includes a lug on the sprocket wheel operative to impart rotary movement of the sprocket wheel to the ratchet wheel after actuation of the switch toopen-circuit condition.

3. A timer including circuit control means having an element movable between one or the other of two normal' positions to establish a circuit-closing or a circuitbreaking condition within said means, a control member for actuating said element, first means including a ratchet wheel mounted for rotation about but fixed against endwise movement along an axis, second means including a sprocket wheel carried by said first means, said second means rotatable about and shiftable endwise along said axis and relative to said first means, said control member being fixed to and. projecting from said last mentioned means, means operatively connecting said first and second means whereby rotation of said first means will impart axial movement only to said second means for moving said control member away from said circuit control element, and wherein rotation of said second means in the same direction willimpart axial movement thereof: relative to and without rotating said first means for moving said control member toward said circuit control element, a reciprocable pawl to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel for imparting stepping rotary motion to the ratchet wheel associated with said first means, drive means engageable with the teeth of the sprocket wheel associated with said second means for imparting rotary motion thereto, an electric motor in driving relationship with said drive means, means connecting said motor to. said circuit control means whereby said motor will be driven during those periods of time when said circuit control element isin circuit-closing condition, and means effecting a direct drive from the sprocket wheel to the ratchet wheel in but one direction of rotation of said wheels, following advancement of the control element to circuit-opening position.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3, wherein is included means for adjusting the position of the control member axially of the sprocket wheel, to predetermine engagement of the direct drive from the sprocket wheel to the ratchet wheel.

5. A timer including circuit control means having an element movable between one or the other of two normal positions to establish a circuit closing or a circuit breaking condition within said means, a control member for actuating said element, first means including a ratchet wheel mounted for rotation about but fixed against endwise movement along an axis, second means including a sprocket wheel carried by said first means, said second means rotatable about and shiftable endwise along said axis and relative to said first means, said control memher being fixed to. and projecting from said last mentioned means, means operatively connecting said first and second means whereby rotation of said first means will impart axial movement only to said second means for moving said control member away from said circuit control element, and wherein rotation of said second means in the same direction will impart axial movement thereof relative to and without rotating said first means for moving said control member toward said circuit control element, a reciprocable pawl to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel for imparting stepping rotary motion to the ratchet wheel associated with said first means, drive means engageable with the teeth of the sprocket wheel associated with said second means for imparting rotary motion thereto, an electric motor in driving relationship with said drive means, means connecting said motor to said circuit control means whereby said motor will be driven during those periods of time when said circuit control element is in circuit closing condition, and cooperative means on the sprocket wheel and the ratchet wheel engageable only after advancement of the control element to circuit-opening position, for driving the ratchet wheel by the sprocket wheel in but one direction only, in the event of continued operation of the electric motor aforesaid.

6. The comboination as set forth in claim 5, wherein actuation of the pawl to rotate the ratchet wheel while the latter is being driven by the sprocket wheel, operates to break the driving connection between said wheels.

7. In a timing mechanism, the combination of switch means for opening and closing an electric circuit, a support, a toothed rotary ratchet wheel and an interiorly threaded nut axially rotatable therewith relative to the support, means including a coin slide for rotating said wheel and nut unitarily in stepping fashion, and means frictionally opposing such rotation, a toothed rotary sprocket wheel having a fixedstud disposed axially thereof, the stud having a free end and being externally screwthreaded for reception by the nut, whereby relative rotation of the nut and stud advances and retracts the stud endinto and from actuating contact with the switch means, an electric motor, and a control member driven thereby to rotate the sprocket wheel in stepping fashion and in the same direction of rotation as is imparted to the ratchet wheel by the coin slide means, friction means opposing rotation of the sprocket wheel as the ratchet wheel is rotated, thereby inducing advancement of'the threaded stud through the nut and into contact with the switch means for actuating the latter, and means operative to preclude undue advancement of the stud end against the switch means in the event of continued operation of the motor following actuation of the switch means by the stud end.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7, wherein is included means operative to predetermine the number of coin slide actuations required for advancing the ratchet wheel a distance of one tooth.

9. In a timing mechanism, the combination of switch means for opening and closing an electric circuit, a support, a toothed rotary ratchet wheel and an interiorly threaded nut axially rotatable therewith relative to the support, means including a coin slide for rotating said wheeland nut unitarily in stepping fashion, and means frictionally opposing such rotation, a toothed rotary sprocket; wheel having a fixed stud axially thereof, the stud havingv a. free end and being externally screwthreaded for reception by the nut, whereby relative rotation of the nut and stud advances and retracts the stud end into and from actuating contact with the switch means, an electric motor, and a control member driven thereby to rotate the sprocket wheel in the same direction of rotation as is imparted to the ratchet wheel by the coin slide means, friction means opposing rotation of the sprocket wheel as the ratchet wheel is rotated, thereby inducing advancement of the threaded stud through the nut and into contact with the switch means for actuating the latter, and means effecting a direct drive from the sprocket wheel to the ratchet wheel in but one direction of said wheels, following initial contact of the stud end upon the switch means for actuating the latter.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 9, wherein is included adjustment means between the stud end and the switch means, for predetermined engagement of the direct drive from the sprocket wheel to the ratchet wheel, with relation to actuation of said switch means.

11. In a timing mechanism, the combination of switch means for opening and closing an electric circuit, a support, a toothed rotary ratchet wheel and an interiorly threaded nut axially rotatable therewith relative to the support, means including a coin slide for rotating said wheel and nut unitarily in step fashion, and means friction-ally opposing such rotation, a toothed rotary sprocket wheel having a fixed stud axially thereof, the stud having a free end and being externally screw-threaded for reception by the nut, whereby relative rotation of the nut and stud advances and retracts the stud end into and from actuating contact with the switch means, an electric motor, and a control member driven thereby to rotate the sprocket wheel in the same direction as is imparted to the ratchet wheel by the coin slide means, friction means opposing rotation of the sprocket wheel as the ratchet wheel is rotated, thereby inducing advancement of the threaded stud through the nut and into contact with the switch means for actuating the latter, and cooperative drive means on the sprocket Wheel and the ratchet wheel engageable only after advancement of the stud end into actuating contact with the switch means, for driving of the ratchet wheel by the sprocket wheel in but one direction only, in the event of continued operation of the sprocket driving motor aforesaid.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 11, wherein the aforesaid cooperative drive means is in the form of lugs struck from adjacent faces of the ratchet and sprocket wheels, and means on the stud end for varying the effective distance between the stud end and the switch means.

13. In a timing mechanism, the combination of switch means actuatable for control of an electric circuit, a

support, a toothed rotary ratchet wheel including a fixed interiorly threaded nut rotatable therewith relative to the support, means for intermittently rotating said wheel and nut unitarily in step fashion, a toothed rotary sprocket wheel including a fixed stud axially thereof, the stud having a free end and being externally screw-threaded for reception by the nut, friction means opposing rotation of said wheels whereby rotation of one wheel relative to the other advances and retracts the stud end into and from actuating contact with the switch means, an electric motor, and a control member driven thereby to rotate the sprocket wheel for advancing the threaded stud through the nut and into contact with the switch means for actuating the latter, and means enforcing unitary rotation of the ratchet wheel with the sprocket Wheel immediately following actuation of the switch means by contact with the stud end.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein is included adjustable means between the stud end and the switch means, for varying the effective distance therebetween.

15. A timer including circuit control means having an element movable between one or the other of two normal positions to establish a circuit closing or a circuit breaking condition within said means, a control member for actuating said element, first means including a ratchet wheel mounted for rotation about but fixed against endwise movement along an axis, second means including a sprocket wheel carried by said first means, said second means rotatable about and shiftable endwise along said axis and relative to said first means, said control member being fixed to and projecting from said last mentioned means, means operatively connecting said first and second means whereby rotation of said first means will impart axial movement only to said second means for moving said control member away from said circuit control element, and wherein rotation of said second means in the same direction will impart axial movement thereof relative to and without rotating said first means for moving said control member toward said circuit control element, a reciprocable pawl to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel for imparting stepping rotary motion to the ratchet wheel associated with said first means, drive means engageable with the teeth of the sprocket wheel associated with said second means for imparting rotary motion thereto, an electric motor in driving relationship with said rive means, means connecting said motor to said circuit control means whereby said motor wiil be driven during those periods of time when said circuit control element is in circuit closing condition, and means including a normally disengaged clutch engageable subsequently to a circuit-breaking disposition of said circuit control means, for placing said second means in driving relationship with said first means, in the event of failure of the electric motor to discontinue actuating the drive means aforesaid.

16. The combination as set forth in claim 15, wherein actuation of the pawl to rotate the ratchet wheel while the clutch is engaged, operates to disengage said clutch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,957,901 Nehls May 8, 1934 2,330,390 Smith Sept. 28, 1943 2,488,766 De Moss Nov. 22, 1949 2,640,873 Moebius June 2, 1953 2,915,692 Greenwald Dec. 1, 1959 

1. IN A TIMING MECHANISM, THE COMBINATION OF A CONTROL MEMBER, AND AN ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR ACTUATING THE CONTROL MEMBER, CIRCUIT MEANS INCLUDING A SELF-CLOSING ELECTRIC SWITCH TENDING TO MAINTAIN AN ENERGIZED CONDITION OF THE MOTOR, A ROTARY RATCHET WHEEL HAVING A PLURALITY OF TEETH THEREON, AND A PAWL SHIFTABLE REPEATEDLY TO ENGAGE SAID TEETH FOR ROTATING THE RATCHET WHEEL IN STEPPING FASHION INCIDENT TO SHIFTING OF THE PAWL, A SWITCH ACTUATOR MOVABLE OUTWARDLY IN INCREMENTS DETERMINED BY THE STEP IMPULSES OF THE RATCHET WHEEL, AND MOVABLE INWARDLY IN INCREMENTS DETERMINED BY THE MOTOR-DRIVEN CONTROL MEMBER, SAID SWITCH ACTUATOR IN ITS INWARD MOVEMENT BEING OPERATIVE TO OPEN-CIRCUIT THE ELECTRIC SWITCH AFORESAID, AND MEANS OPERATIVE TO LIMIT INWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID SWITCH ACTUATOR SUBSEQUENTLY TO OPERATION OF THE SWITCH IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE OF THE MOTOR TO DISCONTINUE DRIVING THE CONTROL MEMBER, SAID LAST-MENTIONED LIMIT MEANS COMPRISING A NORMALLY DISENGAGED CLUTCH ENGAGEABLE SUBSEQUENTLY TO OPERATION OF THE SWITCH, FOR PLACING THE CONTROL MEMBER IN DRIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE RATCHET WHEEL. 